Well… this was on track to be a 4-star (at least) read for me, until the cheating began. It starts off emotional then moves into physical, and that’s where I draw the line. Which is unfortunate, because I was enjoying the book quite a bit up until that point.

Not wasting any time, the book starts right in on the action, with Ben and Livy having a rather memorable and suspenseful meet cute. Ben is immediately taken by Livy but his life is pretty complicated… and Livy has a boyfriend. Livy continues to have a boyfriend (one who is so obviously a loser) thoughout the book, so her growing attraction to Ben – her new boss – becomes an issue. Add in secrets, suspense, and mysteries, and this has an intriguing storyline.

This is the first book in a trilogy and, cheating aside, it’s a solid start. I was confused about the storyline for the first 20% or so because it jumps right in, but I got over that pretty quickly. Had it not been for the cheating, I wouldn’t have hesitated to rate this higher – and it’s a testament to how much I was enjoying it that I actually skimmed through to the end post-cheating. However, I won’t be continuing with the series (and, yes, it DOES end in a major cliffhanger). This loses a full star because of the cheating, and it’s only one because I liked the book so much before it happened. I really didn’t appreciate how it was handled either, but don’t get me started. If it’s not a dealbreaker for you, then the series is certainly worth a try but this one’s not for me. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review of this suspenseful read.

Title: Big Ben

Series: See No Evil Trilogy #1Author: Nana Malone

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: April 21, 2020

Blurb

It began with betrayal.

And ended in murder.

She was never supposed to cross my path.

She was never supposed to know about the currency ofSecrets or the Oaths of Blood.

But like a thief in the night, she stole my soul even if shewasn’t mine to possess.

As a member of the Elite, I live by simple tenets. A gentlemanabove all. Private matters stay private. Secrets whispered are never revealed.Enemies and friends are of the same coin. And power is king.

My so called brothers killed my friend. I intend to makethem pay. And before it’s over, I’ll bend all the rules of morality,decency and legality. I will borrow and steal to set the scales right. Butbegging–begging, you can forget about.

Excerpt

“You’re the one who needs to be careful. You’re small and delicate, and you traipse around jumping into messes like you can’t get hurt. When someone tries to mug you, you try to fight back.”

“I just couldn’t let it happen again. Besides, they wanted to take me somewhere, andeven I know that’s not a good idea.”

“At least you know that much.”

She jabbed me in the chest, her finger leaving an invisible, searing burn on my skin. And I wanted more.

“You need to be more careful.”

“Careful, Mr. Covington, someone might accuse you of caring.”

I squared my shoulders. “Hardly.” My gaze fell on her lips, and my gut tightened. No.Stop looking at her mouth.

Olivia swallowed hard. “I am… uh…” The spark of lightning between us danced. I could physically feel the tension in the room. I needed to get changed. I needed her to get out for me to do that. But goddamn, her hands were on me as she patted me dry. “Look, it’s fine. I’m just going to help you, and then we’ll get back to our day, okay? God, I’m such an idiot. I was really trying to help.”

She continued to pat me with the towel as she spoke rapidly, hardly taking abreath. Each press of her palm was stoking the flame, playing with fire. “Um,Livy?”

She kept on talking though. About how I needed to be more careful. That I should havebetter situational awareness. Have a clue as to what was happening around me.

All the while, she had zero idea what was going on in my head. The war I was havingwith myself about touching her, about what was appropriate. All the blood rushed south, and I clenched my teeth, trying to fight against my growing erection. She chose that moment to glance down.

Fucking brilliant.

Her voice went throaty when she mumbled, “Um, I think you’re mostly dry. You can handle this yourself. I’m going to go.”

USA Today Bestselling Author, NANA MALONE’s love of allthings romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense sheborrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precociousthirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since.

With her overactive imagination, and channeling her innerBuffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her owncharacters. Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana, meantimeworks out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit assassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.

The books in her series have been on multiple Amazon Kindleand Barnes & Noble best seller lists as well as the iTunes Breakout Bookslist and most notably the USA Today Bestseller list.

Until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find Nana workinghard on additional books for her series as well as other fun, sassy romancesfor characters that won’t leave her alone. And if she’s not working or hidingin the closet reading, she’s acting out scenes for her husband, daughter andpuppy in sunny San Diego.